Minivan drivers stage protest

BOGOR: Dozens of minivan drivers gathered at the council building here to protest against the injustices they face in the course of their work.

Arif, 50, said each minivan driver on the Baranangsiang- Bubulak had to pay Rp 1,000 to the management of the Baranangsiang bus terminal.

"But there are still many thugs around the terminal who force us to pay another Rp 1,000," he said.

The chairman of the organization of minivan owners and drivers, Effendi Siregar, said there used to be 284 minivans on the Baranangsiang-Bubulak route. But recently another 90 minivans have begun to ply this route, allegedly without legal operating permits. As a result, he said, drivers are making less money.

The protesters were received by councillor Rizal Barnadi and A. Tedi from the Bogor land transportation agency, who promised to look into the matter. --JP

;JP;BNT; ANPAj..r.. Focus-Bogor-museum-zoology Bogor Zoology museum closed JP/8/GREATER

Bogor zoology museum closed

JAKARTA: The Bogor Museum of Zoology, which was built in 1894, is being closed temporarily due to fears that the building could collapse.

"We have to close it as the fragile building could collapse at any time and endanger visitors," said Hayati Endang Sukara, deputy chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) when addressing a seminar on the future of the museum here on Tuesday.

He said the museum, which was built by Dutch researcher Dr. CJ Koningseberger, was important to educate people on Indonesian fauna.

Hayati said the museum had not been well maintained, particularly during the last five years, due to financial restraints.

"Besides, the public no longer find the zoology museum interesting, so we need to find a solution to improve its condition and make it function well to generate interest in fauna," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

LIPI's Biology Research Center head, Arie F. Budiman said that the building would be renovated and reopen in three months. -- JP

;JP;SPS; ANPAj..r.. Focus-PelitaHarapan-debate Pelita Harapan wins debate JP/8/GREATER

Pelita Harapan wins debate

JAKARTA: A team from Pelita Harapan high school in Tangerang, West Java, and one from Gandhi Memorial International School in Central Jakarta respectively won the first and second place of an English debate here on Monday, while Taruna Nusantara high school from Magelang, Central Java, won the special category.

The contest, held from Friday through Monday, was held by Pelita Harapan for the first time to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

As for the individual best speaker category, S. Astrid Kusumawardhani from Al-Izhar Pondok Labu high school in South Jakarta took first place, followed by Natasha Jaya from Pelita Harapan high school at second and Virania Devarainy Munaf from Al-Azhar in South Jakarta at third.

The competition involved 41 teams, including those from international schools. Four of them were from outside Greater Jakarta. --JP